Welcome to Mimi, Lauren and Daniel's temperate rain forest facts page!


Monerans of the Temperate Rain Forest

Monerans are single-celled organisms that do not have a nucleus.

Arcanobacterium pyogenes
One type of moneran that lives in the temperate rain forest is the Arcanobacterium pyogenes. It lives in ruminants like deer and elk native to the temperate rain forest and causes these animals to get infections and diseases.

Arcanobacterium_Pyogenes.jpg
Arcanobacterium pyogenes

Chlamydia pneumoniae
This is an example of Chlamydia pneumoniae, a bacterium that affects mainly koalas, living in their blood. In picture A, the arrow points you to what is the bacteria. This Moneran poses a threat to the koala population in Tasmania. This bacterium is also found in tropical rain forest other tropical rain forest regions and has a strain which can affect humans.
Chlamydia pneumoniae
Chlamydia pneumoniae


Protists of the Temperate Rain Forest

Protists are single-celled organisms that have a nucleus and organelles.

testate amoeba
One example of a Protist in the temperate rain forest is the Psam monobiotus communis, who's common name is the testate amoebae. They are protozoans, or animal-like protists, and live in the soil of the forest.

Testate_Amoebae.jpg
Psam monobiotus communis

"Scrambled Egg" Slime Mold
Another example of a Protist in the temperate rain forest is the Fuligo septica. It's common name is "Scrambled-egg Slime". It is a type of slime mold. Judging from the name you would naturally assume that slime mold is mold but it is really a Protist. It was recently reclassified from the Kingdom Fungi, to Kingdom Protista. It moves along the forest floor like a giant amoeba, feeding on bacteria. Slime mold looks incredibly ugly, but it is perfectly harmless.

Fuligo septica
Fuligo septica





Fungi of the Temperate Rain Forest

Fungi are multi-celled organisms that absorb nutrients from their environment and do not have chlorophyll.

Peziza violacea

One very common type of fungi is called Peziza violacea. It is a type of sac fungi and has a tendency to grow in areas were there have been fires. It thrives in the temperate rain forest setting, but can survive in other climates, such as the tropical rain forest.

Peziza violacea
Peziza violacea




Honey Mushroom
The Armillaria nabsnona is a type of club fungus also known as the Honey Mushroom. It lives in the temperate rain forests located on the Olympic Peninsula,which is just south of Vancouver. It grows on decaying vegetation.

Honey_Mushroom.jpg
Armillaria nabsnona




Plants of The Temperate Rain Forest

Plants are multicellular organisms with cell walls that produce their own food through the process of photosynthesis.

Brophytes are nonvascular plants that lie close to a water source and produce spores.

Sphagnum moss
One type of moss, or Bryophyte, in the temperate rain forest is Sphagnum cristatum, which can simply be refered to by it's Genus: Sphagnum moss. This type of sphagnum moss lives in the temperate rain forest of New South Wales, Australia. It grows mostly on the forest floor.
Sphagnum_Moss.jpg
Sphagnum cristatum



Classification of the Sphagnum Moss
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Bryophyta
Class: Sphagnopsida
Subclass: Sphagnidae
Order: Sphagnales
Family: Sphagnaceae
Genus: Sphagnum
Species: cristatum



Hepatophyta is a division of nonvascular plants that produce spores and are flat like leaves.
Ring Pellia
Ring Pellia, or Pellia neesiana, is a liverwort that lives in the temperate rain forest. It lives in thin, moist, and acidic soil that is typically near streams or lakes.

Liverwort.jpg
Ring Liverwort




Classification of the Ring Liverwort
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Hepatophyta
Class: Hepaticopsida
Order: Metzgeriales
Family: Pelliaceae
Genus: Pellia
Species: neesiana



Lycopodiophyta is a division of vascular plants that produce spores and are epiphytic.

Oregon Spike Moss
Oregon Spike Moss is a kind of spike moss in the temperate rain forest. It's scientific name is Selaginella oregana. It grows off of other plants as an epiphyte. It lives in the Olympic Peninsula.


Oregon_Spke_Moss.JPG
Oregon Spike Moss





Classification of the Oregon Spike Moss

Kingdom: Plantae
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta
Division: Lycopodiophyta
Class: Lycopodiopsida
Order: Selaginellales
Family: Selaginellacae
Genus: Selaginella
Species: oregana


Equisetophyta is a division of vascular plants that produce spores and grow in segments with joints.
Giant Horsetail

The giant horsetail lives in the temperate rain forest, and its scientific name is Equisetum telmateia. It grows on the ground in the northern coast of California. This horsetail can grow up to 200 cm tall!

Giant_Horsetail.jpg
Equisetum telmateia





Classification of the Giant Horsetail

Kingdom: Plantae
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta
Division: Equisetophyta
Class: Equisetopsida
Order: Equisetales
Family: Equisetaceae
Genus: Equisetum
Species: telmateia

Pteridophyta is a division of vascular plants which produce spores from spore capsules on the backside of their fronds.
Deer Fern
One type of fern that lives in the temperate rain forest is Blechnum spicant, or deer fern. This fern is also sometimes refered to as the "hard fern." It is native to the temperate rain forests of Western North America, Iceland and Norway. This also grows on the floor of the forest.
Blechum spicant
Blechum spicant


Classification of the Deer Fern

Kingdom: Plantae
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta
Division:Pteridophyta
Class:Filicopsida
Order: Polypodiales
Family:Blechnaceae
Genus: Blechnum L.
Species: spicant

Coniferophyta is a division of vascular plants that produce uncovered seeds, often in the form of cones.
Sitka Spruce
The Sitka Spruce, or Picea sitchensis, is a plant very often associated with the temperate rain forest, especially the temperate rain forests of Great Britain and the Great Bear Rain forest. The Sitka Spruce can grow in poor soils where many other trees can't, which is one reason why it is so successful. It is a huge tree, growing up to 100 meters tall and 5 meters thick, and some species have been known to live for over 700 years! Sitka Spruce is the third tallest conifer in the world.


A young Sitka Spruce tree
A young Sitka Spruce tree
















Classification of Sitka Spruce

Kingdom: Plantae
Sub-Kingdom: Tracheobionta
Superdivision: Spermatophyte
Division: Coniferophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Picea
species: sitchensis

Angiosperms are vascular, flowering plants that produce covered seeds in fruit.
Indian Paintbrush
Coast Indian Paintbrush, or Castilleja affinis, is a flowering plant that lives along the coast of western North America from Washington State to Baja California, especially in the coastal area of the Great Bear Rain Forest. It is listed as an endangered species.
Indian Paintbrush
Indian Paintbrush












Classification of Indian Paintbrush

Kingdom: Plantae
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta
Superdivision: Spermatophyta
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Subclass: Asteridae
Order: Scrophulariales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Genus: Castilleja
Species: affinis



Animals of the Temperate Rain Forest

Animals are multi-cellular organisms that cannot make their own food.


Common Liver Fluke
The Common Liver Fluke is a parasitic flatworm that resides in the Black-tailed Deer's digestive system. The Common Liver Fluke causes a disease called Faciolosis. Its length is about 2 to 3 centimeters. Liver flukes are carnivores as they feed on their host. This animal is a flatworm.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Platyhelminthes
Class: Trematoda
Order: Echinostomida
Family: Fasciolidae
Genus: Fasciola
Species: hepatica

Fasciola_hepatica.jpg
Common Liver Fluke



Bipalium adventitium
Bipalium adventitium is a flat worm that is native to most of the temperate United States, including the Olympic Peninsula of Washington. This animal is unique in the fact that it actually feeds on earthworms. Proportionately speaking, that's a large meal for such a small animal! These worms are thin and brown with a spade-shaped tail ends. They are carnivores as they feed on earthworms.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Platyhelminthes
Class: Turbellaria
Order: Seriata
Family: Bipaliidae
Genus:Bipalium
Species: adventitium
LW-B.adventitium-pic.jpg
Bipalium adventitium




Canine Heartworm
The Canine Heartworm, or Dirofilaria immitis is a parasite that infects dogs such as coyotes, as the name suggests. They are a carnivore, like most parasites, feeding on their host's blood. They live in their host's heart. The Canine Heartwom is a type of roundworm.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Nemathelminthes
Class: Nematoda
Order: Spirurida
Family: Filariidae
Genus: Dirofilaria
Species: immitis

Canine_Heartworm.jpg
Dirofilaria immitus




Soybean Cyst Nematode
The Heterodera glycines, also known as the Soybean Cyst Nematode, is a parasite that lives in the Olympic Peninsula. Although it is a parasite, it is a herbivore since it only infects the roots of plants, where it lives. It is a roundworm.


Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Nematoda
Class: Chromadorea
Order: Tylenchida
Family: Heteroderidae
Genus: Heterodera
Species: glycines


Soybean_Cyst_Nematode.jpg
Heterodera glycines


Earthworm
The Arctiostrotus vancouverensis is a decomposer that lives in the temperate rain forests of Vancouver Island and the Olympic Peninsula. It lives in rotting logs or acidic soil. It is a segmented worm.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Annelida
Class: Oligocheata
Order: Opisthopora
Family: Megascolecidae
Genus: Arctiostrotus
Species: vancouverensis


Earthworm.jpg
Arctiostrotus vancouverensis


Americobdella
Americobdella
(no common name) is a rare, newly discovered leech that can be found in
Southern Chile. It eats only earthworms, which they suck in whole. These leeches can grow to be over a foot long! Scientists believe that it is a member of a very primitive and ancient group of leeches called Arhynchobdellid. It has three sharp teeth.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Eumetazoa
Class: Clitellata
Order: Arhynchobdellida
Family: Americobdellidae
Genus: Americobdella
Species: valdiviana

Americobdella (pretty, isn't it?)
Americobdella (pretty, isn't it?)



Banana Slug
Banana slugs live in the coastal regions of the Northwestern United States. They are the second largest slugs in the world at 12 inches (30cm.) long. Wherever banana slugs travel, they leave a trail of slime. These slime has many purposes, including protection, ease of travel along the forest floor where they live, and enticing other slugs during mating season. This animal is a mollusk.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Pulmonata
Family: Arionidae
Genus: Ariolimax
Species: columbianus

pictures.jpg
Banana Slug




European Black Slug
This mollusk also lives in the Olympic Peninsula of Washington (although this contradicts it's name). This slug is an omnivore as it eats both plants and animals. It is covered in a thick bad tasting slime that works to deter it's predators. The European Black Slug lives on the forest floor.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Molluska
Class: Gastropoda
Order: Mulmonata
Family: Arionidae
Genus: Arion
Species: ater

LW-blackslug-pic.jpg
European Black Slug


Migratory Grasshopper
The Migratory Grasshopper is an insect that lives in the temperate rain forest, and many other areas as well. They are herbivores and eat many varieties of plants, some being dandelions, barley, and wheat. They live mostly low to the ground in grasses. This is an arthropod.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Class Insecta
Order Orthoptera
Family Acrididae
Genus Melanoplus
Species sanguinipes

Migratory grasshopper
Migratory grasshopper



Pacific Coast Tiger Beetle
The Pacific Coast Tiger Beetle is an insect that lives in the Olympic Peninsula. They prefer to live in more open spaces. They are carnivores that eat other insects and arthropods. The Tiger Beetle itself is an arthropod.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coeleoptera
Family: Caribidae
Genus: Cicindela
Species: bellissima

Pacific_Coast_Tiger_Beetle.jpg
Cicindela bellissima




Kakapo
The Kakapo, or Strigops habroptilus, is a very rare species of parrot native to New Zealand's temperate rain forests. It is a herbivore that eats mostly fruits, seeds, plants, and pollen. It lives mostly on the ground, since they have lost the ability to fly. It is the world's heaviest parrot.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Strigops
Species:habroptilus

Kakapo.jpg
Kakapo



Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon, or Falco peregrinus, is a carnivorous raptor that lives in the Olympic Peninsula. They feed on mostly birds such as waterfowl, pigeons, starlings, and blackbirds, but sometimes bats and other small mammals or reptiles. It is the world's fastest flyer, and can reach up to 112 km/hr flying, and 320 km/hr diving!

PeregrineFalcon.jpg
Peregrine Falcon



Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Genus: Falco
Species: peregrinus

Mourning Dove
Another bird living in the temperate rain forests of the Olympic Peninsula is the Mourning Dove. Its scientific name is Zenaida macroura. Although it eats mostly plant material like fruits, seeds, and nuts, they have been known to eat insects such as grasshoppers and snails on rare occasions.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Zenaida
Species: macroura


Mourning_Dove.jpg
A Mourning Dove




Black-Tailed Deer
The black-tailed deer is also common to the temperate rainforest and more specifically the Olympic Peninsula. The diet of the Black-tailed deer is made up mostly of leaves and berries, as they are herbivores. These animals are very susceptible to parasites such as the liver fluke.

Black-Tailed Deer
Black-Tailed Deer


Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Genus: Odocoilus
Species: hemionus

Kermode Bear
The Kermode Bear, also known as "The Spirit Bear", is a very unique habitant of the temperate rainforest. This bear has a distict white coat, though it is neither albino, nor related to the Polar bear. It is actually a subspecies of the black bear, that has a recessive gene causing its cream-colored fur. The diet of the Kermode bear is omnivorous as it consists of salmon, green plants, and berries. Kermode bears are extremely endangered.
A Kermode bear
A Kermode bear



Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae
Genus:Ursus
Species: americanus
Subspecies: kermondei


Pacific tree frog
The Pacific tree frog, or Pseudacris regilla, is very common in the region of Northern California. These frogs are quite small, being only 3/4 to 2 inches long (2 to 5 cm.), and mostly are ground dwellers despite the name. Pacific tree frogs are have large eyes and heads, a slim waist, and round pads on the feet. They prefer moist environments, like areas near a river or stream. Like chameleons, they use their sticky tongue to snatch insects right out of the air. Color varies, but most are green or brown. They eat mostly small arthropods like spiders, beetles, and other insects.

Pacific_Tree_Frog.jpg
Pacific Tree Frog


Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Hylidae
Genus: Psuedacris
Species: regilla

Pacific Giant Salamander
The Pacific Giant Salamander, or Dicamptodon tenebrus, lives in the temperate rain forests of Oregon and Washington. It can grow to be up to 13 inches long, and has muscular legs and a bulky head. These salamanders are some of the only salamanders that have vocalization, and the sound that they produce sounds somewhat like a dog's bark. Their large, powerful jaws enable them to eat mice, voles, and some small snake species.

Pacific Giant Salamander
Pacific Giant Salamander



Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Caudata
Family: Dicamptidontidae
Genus: Dicamptodon
Species: tenebrus




Painted Turtle
The painted turtle, or Chrysemys picta, is a reptile that is found all over the United States (including Olympic National Park, a temperate rain forest), Northern Mexico, and Southern Canada. It likes living in areas with areas of shallow freshwater with a thick layer of mud. Painted turtles have smooth shells with red or yellow markings on a blackish-greenish background, and can range in length from 3 to 9 inches (6.5 to 23 cm.). Painted turtles may live up to 30 years.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Family: Emydidae
Genus: Chrysemys
Species: picta

Painted Turtle
Painted Turtle





Common Garter Snake
The Common Garter Snake is a reptile that lives in the temperate rain forests in the Olympic Peninsula, and much of other areas in North America. They usually live near water. Common Garter Snakes eat a varied diet made up of frogs, small mammals, earthworms, and insects. Unlike most reptiles, they give birth to live young.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Class: Colubridae
Genus: Thamnophis
Species: sirtalis

Common_Garter_Snake.jpg
Common Garter Snake



Snowshoe hare
The snowshoe hare (lepus americanus), also known as the varying hare, lives really all over North America, including the Olympic Peninsula. They have several adaptations to changing seasons, including fur that turns snow white at wintertime and rusty brown in the summertime. They have evolved especially large feet to travel across snow without sinking in. It will eat ferns, grass and leaves in the summer and in the winter resorts to twigs and bark, so it is a herbivore.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Lagomorpha
Family: Leporadae
Genus: Lepus
species: americanus

external image Lepus_americanus_5459.JPG

Bobcat
The bobcat is a carnivore that lives in the Olympic Peninsula. They eat mostly rodents and rabbits. Sometimes in the winter, they will even eat deer. Bobcats are highly adaptable and live in many other biomes, including the taiga.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
Genus: Lynx
Species: Rufus


Bobcat.jpg
Bobcat



Olympic Marmot
The Olympic Marmot is also a resident of the Olympic Rainforest, as suggested in it's name. This animal has a stocky, beaver/guinea pig body, with soft furry tails. This animal is an herbivore as it eats mostly easily digestible plants. Occasionally the Olympic Marmot will eat insects, but it prefers plants such as, flowers, grasses, leaves, and legumes.


Olympic_Marmot.jpg
Olympic Marmot


Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Marmota
Species: olympus


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